20
Halo
The months passed.
Zenon kept his word. He didn’t touch me, except for a few creepy-but-tolerable strokes of my cheek or hands. He kept me warm and fed, with plenty of (shackled) bathroom breaks to accommodate the new strain on my bladder. Zenon even let me shower, with pre-warmed pails of water that Silas brought, which hereallydidn’t enjoy. The only thing I had for entertainment was talking to Silas, and jerking off with only mild privacy. It was like staying at the world’s creepiest and most boring hotel.
My perception of the passage of time was muddy and unclear. My circadian rhythms struggled to adjust to the strange torch light of the cavern, so mostly I had no idea what day or time it was - the only thing I had to go by was the fact that Silas went hunting in the late afternoons, when the sun warmed the cold mountain side enough for prey to come out of hiding.
I felt my baby growing. My belly had swollen, something that I wish Zenon didn’t have to comment on. It should have been a magical experience I got to share with Kass, but instead I was locked in a cage like a weird living display.
I can’t complain,I told myself.I was the one who chose this.
But I wasn’t complaining. The magic that depleted when I time travelled had almost fully returned. It burned fiercely beneath my skin, pulsing in my blood and energizing me. If I didn’t purposely stop the excess magic sparks from shedding, they would probably be constantly glowing around my body. But Zenon and Silas didn’t need to know the extent of my power. It was best to keep it secret.
Until I could finally let it loose.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I entrenched myself in my blankets, shutting out all light, and closed my eyes before opening the mental link between Kass and I.
Kass? Are you there?I called out into the darkness.
A few moments passed where he didn’t respond, and I became worried that our link had been lost somehow. Finally, his voice replied,I’m here, Halo.
Thank gods. Listen, I know I said three months but -
I could hear the shit-eating smirk in his voice.You have no way to tell the passing of time, do you?
I groaned mentally.Shut up.
Don’t worry,Kass promised.You weren’t too far off. The full moon is tomorrow night. That’s when we’re going to attack.He paused.Are you ready? We’re going to need your help. We’ll do what we can, but we need your powers.
That filled me with pride and determination.Yeah. I’m ready. There’s something you should know. Silas leaves the cave every afternoon to go hunting. That would be a good time to show up.
Okay,Kass said.That’s helpful. I’ll tell the others.
I’m… I’m excited to see you again.
Me too.His voice was warm.Well… I should get some rest. It’s going to be a big night tomorrow.
Yeah,I agreed.
We said goodnight, and I was left alone in my cage again. But not for long. Because tomorrow, I would be a free man - forever.
* * *
The hours melted by.I dozed in the corner of my cage, fantasizing to pass the time, when a ferocious, booming roar from around the corner made me jolt upright.
“Go! Now!” Zenon shouted so angrily that the hairs on the back of my neck stood.
A second later Silas stumbled from out of his den, looking exhausted and irritated. He stopped in front of my cage with a death glare.
“What?” I asked uncomfortably.
“This is all your fault,” he muttered. Up so close, I could see the dark bags under his eyes. Was he not getting enough sleep? As I thought about it, I realized he’d been gone a lot lately, sent on hunting trips more frequently as my belly swelled.
“What didIdo?”
“It’s that stupid child of yours,” Silas sneered, keeping his voice low, but venomous. “Master is never satisfied with the amount of food I bring back - for you, for him, forthatthing.”
